By: Joshua Bass, Co-Producer, TigerTV

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have served as pivotal battlegrounds for political candidates for decades, and the 2024 presidential election is no exception.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have targeted HBCUs to engage Black college voters. Trump visited a local Chick-fil-A near the Atlanta University Center Consortium, where students interacted with him about HBCU significance.

Harris, a Howard University alumna, possesses a deeper connection to these institutions. She has toured multiple HBCUs, addressing issues pertinent to students.

As Election Day nears, the pressing question is: Who truly benefits HBCUs more – Harris or Trump? The White House reported that The Biden-Harris Administration has allocated over $17 billion in funding for HBCUs, whereas speculation is that Trump created a budget for HBCUs when he merely signed the bipartisan FUTURE Act in 2019, providing annual funding of $255 million.

While funding is critical, Trump’s agenda raises the destructive idea of dismantling the Department of Education, jeopardizing potential change agents and the American Dream. Black college students would face an uncertain future, contemplating whether they will inhabit a democracy or an autocracy. 

Moreover, Trump, a convicted felon, is permitted to run for president while other convicted felons are disenfranchised. Let us not forget January 6th, a hallmark of not only a violent past but a daunting future if Trump is to be elected again. 

As we approach this pivotal election, one crucial question comes to mind, as many scholars have pointed out: If Trump’s notion of making America great again is predicated on this, how was America great before?

Trump will take us back to his idea of the “good ol’ days,” which intensifies and returns modern-day slavery, lynching, and disrespect to the black community. One possible way such practices would intensify is if we lynch our minds by voting for Trump.

On the other hand, I contend that Harris will be the president who authentically champions HBCUs, informed by her experience as an alumna and understanding of the significance of representation. 

Harris articulates a vision of democracy that empowers Black students to realize their aspirations. She leverages her platform to advocate for HBCU students.

The election of this day is not just another election. This election is a challenge to continue the work that our brothers and sisters who came before us completed in the face of adversity. This election is what decides whether Roe v. Wade is restored, freedom of speech is protected, and a plethora of racist policies  are blocked. 

Copy Edited by Journalism Department Chair, Ron Thomas